US president briefed on humanitarian efforts to aid Ukraine in Poland

By Handan Kazanci

ISTANBUL (AA) – US President Joe Biden on Friday received a briefing on humanitarian response amid Russia’s war on Ukraine during a visit to Poland.

"The single most important thing that we can do on the outset is keeping the democracies united in our opposition, and our effort to curtail devastation that is occurring at the hands of a man who, quite frankly, I think, is a war criminal," Biden told reporters during a briefing along with Polish President Andrzej Duda.

"I think it'll meet the legal definition of that as well," added Biden, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"I think it's been a surprise that how we've all stayed together across the border," he said. “The most severe punishing sanctions in the history of world.. Economic sanctions have been imposed. And there's more that will come.”

Biden is accompanied by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Samantha Power, head of the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

Earlier on Friday, Biden visited US troops in Poland.

"This afternoon, I met with members of the 82nd Airborne Division on the ground in Poland," he wrote on Twitter, sharing a photo with the soldiers while eating pizza.

"These folks are serving alongside our Polish Allies to bolster NATO’s frontline defenses. They’re doing incredible work and I’m grateful for their service," he added.

On Saturday, Biden is expected to deliver a speech in the courtyard of the Royal Castle in Poland.

Russia began its war on Feb. 24. It has been met with international outrage, with the EU, US, and UK, among others, implementing tough financial sanctions on Moscow.

At least 1,081 civilians have been killed in Ukraine and 1,707 injured, according to UN estimates, while cautioning that the true figure is likely far higher.

More than 3.7 million Ukrainians have also fled to neighboring countries, with over 6.5 million more displaced inside the country, according to the UN refugee agency.